Another round of the long-running May River and Bruin roads “streetscape” beautification project is here, starting with streetlights installation by SCE&G.

The town of Bluffton has also accepted and is reviewing, with the S.C. Department of Transportation, bids for landscaping including tree and shrub plantings along with benches, wastebaskets, bike racks and other items.

All together, it will culminate the heavy-lifting infrastructure work done in 2009. That included rebuilding all of Bruin Road and the section of May River Road from Pin Oak and Heyward streets to the four-way stop with Bluffton Road, Boundary Street and Bruin Road. Other major construction included adding a filtration drainage system and installing sidewalks with brick pavers.

For the next phases, the budget of about $400,000 includes a $200,000 federally-funded Transportation Enhancement Grant awarded and administered by the SCDOT.

Now under way is a streetlight equipment and installation project contracted to SCE&G, the electricity provider in the project area, as a sole-source provider with a franchise, said engineer Karen Jarrett, town transportation project manager.

The streetlights will go on part of May River Road. Preparations began in November. Conduits are being run to get ready for the lights.

“There will be 42 lights installed,” Jarrett said. “SCE&G has advised that lighting will be completed in January. They are about 80 feet apart from the four-way stop to Shults Road. The costs are roughly $120,000 for lights and conduit. Additional lighting, beyond this scope, will be evaluated and installed as (town) council approves funding.”

“The light is essentially the same fixture as the fixtures on Calhoun Street and Bruin at Tabby roads, but the pole will be slightly different,” she said.

A town release said, “While the work will proceed through December, it is being sequenced to minimize disruption through the holiday season. In the near future, we will add to these lights throughout the streetscape.”

WHAT’S NEXT

For the remaining work, the town solicited and opened bids Nov. 21 at Town Hall. The bids advertisement sought “qualified teams of contractors and landscapers to provide construction improvements on May River and Bruin roads including landscaping, tree installation, irrigation, paver installation, masonry installation, concrete construction, rain garden construction, erosion control, installation of benches, trash cans and fencing, minor erosion control installation and maintenance of erosion control measures.”

Two bids were received, both from local companies. JS Construction of Bluffton bid $264,394.60. The Greenery of Hilton Head Island bid $215,278.98, according to bid opening minutes from Town Clerk Sandra Lunceford.

“We are hopeful we will get a contract out of this bid opening. SCDOT has been involved in all aspects of this grant-related work,” Jarrett said.

“The grant requirements are stringent, intended to assure that federal monies, administered through the state, are used properly. There have been some issues with the grant requirements and bids received, but I think we have ironed out most of those issues,” she said.

“The timetable for the remaining work included in the streetscape is dependent on contract award. Presently, SCDOT is reviewing the bid documents for this project.”

The bid specifications say, “the contract time for this work is 120 days to substantial completion, with final acceptance within 150 days.”

Also, “The town has 5,000 reclaimed bricks for use in those items requiring reclaimed brick.”